pradsz

Hey guys - I'm brand new to these forums, and really have a simple question that is basically going to expose me as a painfully naive fool, but here goes. I have an '06 A3 2.0T with factory installed halogens. For the last few weeks I've been doing research on using a 4300K H11 retro-fit kit (from xenondepot) to install xenon's on my low beams. Here are my questions:
- Does the '06 A3 have projector halogen headlamps or reflectors? I know the '07 has projector halogens, but I wasn't sure about the '06.
- Has anyone done this upgrade and encountered the "low beam failure" warning, and if so, have you successfully used the extra error-suppressing wires?
- Any preferences out there for 4300K vs. 5000K? I'm leaning towards 4300 for an OEM look, but could be persuaded otherwise.

Thank you all a million times in advance. I really appreciate ANY help anyone can provide!

passingthrough

I researched and found a well reviewed supplier at www.gthid.us who uses German-made ballasts. They have different kits depending on car make rather than one universal kit, in order to avoid the failure message. There was a review from one buyer who confirmed he got no errors in his A3. They also have a 10% coupon code right now and and a price markdown so I think it was only around $200 for their "H7" low beam kit. Mine is on the way now.

Hope that helps.

Disclaimer: This is from one noob to another.

pradsz

Thanks so much for the info. Do you know if an '06 A3 with halogens has projectors?

raduga

Reflectors are just like the standard old halogen headlamps on every older car. Are they flat lenses with reflectors in back of the bulb, or are they spherical lenses and you can't see the bulb itself (projectors). In other words, if your main-beam lamps look like your hi-beam lamps, you have reflectors.

onuris

06 A3 is a reflector housing. If you stick an aftermarket kit in that, firstly you wont get much better lighting since it wont focus properly, and secondly you're going to blind oncoming traffic which could cause some serious accidents.

Here's a good shot of the amount of glare caused Not an A3, but you get the idea.
<img src="http://www.intellexual.net/hids/8000kglare3.jpg">

And this is why. Notice that the beam pattern is all over the place, with no clear cut-off line:
<img src="http://www.intellexual.net/hids/5.jpg">

Strongly recommended reading <a href="http://www.intellexual.net/hid.html">here</a>.

Your best option is to replace the housing as well - see this <a href="http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=58691">great writeup</a>

As for the bulb failure warning, most cars simply read the power draw of the bulb. A halogen bulb draws 55W whereas the HID bulb draws 35W. So the trick is to make up the 20W difference by putting in a resistor. By calculations that would be an 8-10 ohm resistor (rated for at least 50W so it doesnt overheat). The "error suppressing wires" you mentioned is probably just that.

absoluTT A3

glare--most likely one of these improper conversions. It's almost like they have their high beams on. Flashing them just gives you an angry flash back--they have no clue about their screw-up.

passingthrough

Good info. I'm ordering Audi Xenon housings now instead of just a bulb kit.

pradsz

Thank you very much for the information. It appears I'm not only one mystified by this whole process, and to be honest - the "plug and play" promise of so many of these aftermarket HID kits seemed just too good to be true. I had a suspicion about the reflectors, but had no idea what to look for. Oh, and you also happen to have the A3 color I wish I could've gotten (the deal I got on my brilliant black was too good to pass up, but if I could do it again - Ibis White in a HEARTBEAT with open sky. SO. DAMN. SEXY.)

Anyways, thanks again for the info and your help!

MisterJJ

Also, get xTec ballasts so you don't have to worry about the lights flickering because of the current difference.

I got the bulbs here: www.understeer.com

Don't for a second buy the line "these bulbs are designed for your car". All they are saying is that they are H11 bulbs so they'll fit. They are probably rebased D2S bulbs. (The "S" is for projector housings) The D2S bulbs will not work well in your reflector housing and will cause the problems that others have mentioned.

If you've got the money for projector housings, great. If not, the D2R bulbs will work fine and save you some serious coin.

onuris

I was considering a kit too as well and when I found that page and saw the pics, it stopped me right there. TBH, the stock halogens are already amazingly bright, much brigher than on any other car (sans-HID) I've ever owned and driven. But just to get it a bit brighter (~10%) and slightly whiter, I went with PIAA extreme whites. That's something you could consider if $$ is an issue.